JPs mull $10 voluntary tax ordinanceThe Pope County Quorum Court went away from a proposed .5 mill voluntary tax during its first meeting of 2016 on Thursday and read an ordinance that would allow county property owners to pay a voluntary fee that would go towards animal welfare and control. A second reading of an ordinance by title only that would levy an annual voluntary tax of .5 mill for all real and personal property died due to the lack of a second. Justice of the Peace Ca...

GOP senator resigns from private option task forceLITTLE ROCK — A Republican state senator has resigned from a task force studying the future of Arkansas’ hybrid Medicaid expansion, saying he doesn’t want to keep the program that provides health insurance to more than 200,000 people. Sen. Terry Rice, of Waldron, said Wednesday that he resigned from the Health Reform Task Force because he didn’t like the direction the panel was headed. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson formed the group to study t...

Talburt continues service to airport, communityNote: This is one in a series of articles introducing new Russellville commission members and city employees to our readers. Dwight Talburt was drafted in 1965 and decided if he had to go to Vietnam, he wanted to go as an aviator and achieved certification as a pilot on his own. After he found out he didn’t have to go around the globe, he continued to get certifications because of his enjoyment and interest in aviation. Talburt, who relocated ...

County saw solid growth in DecemberPope County had a really good financial month in December, Treasurer Donna Wall told the Quorum Court’s Budget Committee during its first meeting of 2016 on Tuesday. Gross sales tax receipts for the county’s General Fund for December were $371,412 — an increase of 8.8 percent or $30,295 over December 2014. Year-to-date collections remained ahead of collections through December 2014 by 4.5 percent. Collections ended the year 4 percent ahead of ...

Vaughn returns to public serviceNote: This is one in a series of articles introducing new Russellville commission members and city employees to our readers. After nine years in the private sector, Tanessa Vaughn decided she wanted to get back into public service and joined the city of Russellville’s team as human resources director last month. Vaughn, who succeeded former human resources director Tracey Cline-Pew when she accepted a job in Little Rock, said she once was invo...

Man behind armed Oregon band says he's on mission from God PORTLAND, Ore. — The man behind the armed occupation of a federal wildlife refuge comes from a Mormon family that has been challenging government authority for at least two decades. Ammon Bundy, like his father in previous confrontations, says he is following directions from God and invokes his family's faith when explaining the anti-government movement he is attempting to lead. In March 2014, Cliven Bundy was at the center of an armed standof...

Arkansas AG releases statement on President’s actionsArkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released a statement Monday after President Barack Obama announced executive actions to restrict gun rights of law-abiding Americans. “Enhancing public safety and reducing the impact of gun violence on our communities must be a top priority, but the President is once again attempting to side-step the legislative branch, this time to restrict gun rights of law-abiding citizens,” Attorney General Rutledg...

'It gets me mad' - Obama acts alone on gun control WASHINGTON — Tears streaking his cheeks, President Barack Obama launched a final-year push Tuesday to tighten sales of firearms in the U.S., using his presidential powers in the absence of tougher gun restrictions that Congress has refused to pass. The president struck a combative tone as he came out with plans for expanded background checks and other modest measures that have drawn consternation from gun rights groups, which Obama accused of ...

Carruth returns to public service on Airport CommissionNote: This is one in a series of articles introducing new Russellville commission members and city employees to our readers. It’s been a long time since Phil Carruth served the Russellville community. After serving on the City Council, he was elected in 1994 to one term as mayor and served from 1995-99. He said he recently made some time available and called Mayor Randy Horton after the passing of former Regional Airport Commissioner Phil Cowg...

Aquatic Center site, flooding discussedRussellville Mayor Randy Horton said last week that the City Council should be told a 90 percent complete price on the $5.75 million aquatic center during its January meeting. The Aquatic Center Committee met Wednesday and made a couple of changes necessary after the decision was made at a previous meeting to build a pitched roof. More geotechnical drilling must be done at the site — down to the slate — the only thing that needs to be done bef...

Yell County OKs $7.1 million budgetDANVILLE — The Yell County Quorum Court approved its 2016 operating budget during its December meeting at the county courthouse. Budget expenditures in the County General Fund, road fund and Library Fund totaled $7,179,317, down from the $7,586,452 in 2015. Treasurer Debra Craig projected General Fund revenue to $4,167,878 for 2016. If revenue and expenditures stay as anticipated, the county could have a reserve surplus of 12.5 percent or $534...

Commissioners discuss zoning codesAfter spending the majority of Monday’s meeting discussing the differences between R-2 and R-3 zoning, the Russellville Planning Commission decided to table a rezoning request until the City Council could consider changing the zoning code. In the end, it’s another obvious reason the city’s zoning codes need to be updated and improved. The discussion involved a review and recommendation of approval to rezone property currently C-2 (Highway Comm...

Scams follow storms and floodingLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is urging Arkansans to be on guard following the recent severe weather and flooding currently affecting many parts of the State. “Despite these difficult times for many Arkansans, scam artists are already seeking to take advantage of those who have had damage to their home or business,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I urge all Arkansans to use caution as they begin the clean-up process...

Barber goes from school halls to City HallNote: This is one in a series of articles introducing new Russellville commission members and city employees to our readers. Nathan Barber had been away from the Russellville School District (RSD) since he retired earlier this year. He said he felt he had the time to devote to make decisions that will make the city of Russellville an even better community than it is. Barber was recently appointed to the Russellville Planning Commission by the ...

Obituary: Jettie McNewJettie McNew DARDANELLE — Jettie Marie McNew, age 87, of Dardanelle died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, at her home. She was born June 4, 1928, at Vincent, Texas to the late James Henry and Addie Myrtle Self Norton. She was an original member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Dardanelle. Besides loving her church, her family was the most important thing in her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Oliver McNew; daughter, Sheryl Diane P...

Atkins approves budgetATKINS — The Atkins City Council approved its 2016 budget during its December meeting at City Hall. Anticipated revenue and total funds available came in at $1,532,459, with expenses totaling $1,131,549. The ending balance is expected to $400,910. The Street Department budget expected revenue and total funds available at $402,585 and expenditures totaling $262,355 for an ending balance of $140,230. Expenditures included administrative, $419,96...

Public input absent from DSB masterDOVER — The Dover School Board at its regular monthly meeting Thursday, Dec. 17, once again failed in an attempt to solicit public comment. As explained by Superintendent Jerry Owens, the district is required by state regulation to hold a biannual public meeting to gather suggestions for the six year cycle of it “Master Plans” for additions to and construction of school facilities. No members of the public attended the announced session. Distr...

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BY STEVE LEAVELL sleavell@cswnet.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

US power grid vulnerable to foreign hacksSAN JOSE, Calif. — Security researcher Brian Wallace was on the trail of hackers who had snatched a California university’s housing files when he stumbled into a larger nightmare: Cyberattackers had opened a pathway into the networks running the United States power grid. Digital clues pointed to Iranian hackers. And Wallace found that they had already taken passwords, as well as engineering drawings of dozens of power plants, at least one with...